Off Roading Tire chains

[jmbrowning]

Thanks for the help!

Great disscussion guys! I tried Les Schwab and (at least the one closest to my house) they only carried medium duty chains. I was really surprised. I ordered 2 heavy duty sets from tirechain.com for slightly less than Schwab's price on medium duties.



Gary, I was investigating the tire situation and I'm fairly limited in selection for the 17 inch wheels. Those Michelins that you like aren't made in 17" as far as I can tell. I could go to BFG's but not sure if there is enough difference to make it worthwhile. I think I'll stick with the All Season Michelins that it has for now, carry the chains, and if the need arises then figure out what my options are.



Thanks again for all the help!

Steve

 

[willyslover]

the 17" guys are very limited... sorry 'bout that... but there will be some on the market soon I'm sure... . and the XPS I like are only in dually sizes I think to bad would be a great tire for 2500's also : ( especially if they made them in larger sizes



Schwab quit stocking the HD V link chains bad move IMHO ... too bad... oh well the TireChains.com site has a great supply of the H. D. V link, and also has all the repair stuff a guy needs to have a few of. .



parts to have with ya IMHO. . cross links at least 2 or 3... . end links 6 or 8 takes 2 for every cross link... snubbers at least 2 better 4... also the black rubber truck snubbers work VERY well but watch the S ends as stated earlier, I clamp them shut after I put them on... 2 side repair links. . I like the ones you peen the tips on

and most important a chain tool to do the repairs with... I carry a set of medium sized bolt cutters with me in the plow... they remove the dammaged pieces and behind the cutter by the handle is the best area to crimp the links as there is a curved spot there where the tips attach to the handle, and also carry a ball peen hammer... ... . and if ya have a 6" piece of old railroad track to use as a portable anvil it works great toooooo LOL



I order about $30/40 of parts from them every year... the snow plow is REAR chained 100% of the time so it uses them up. .

 

[jmbrowning]

Sounds like I was a bit conservative on the spares; I think I ordered 4 each repair links (sides and cross) and 4 end links. I guess I should have ordered the entire cross chain link instead of the repair link?



Great idea on the bolt cutters, that is a tool that could make the best of a bad situation. I have a small pair that would get the job done and be easy to store. Unfortunately I haven't seen my RR track since the last time I moved; I suspect the current owners of that house inherited it with the house .



Do you keep the extra tensioners as spares or run 2 sets right from the start?



Thanks again!

Steve

 

[WTBurke]

Chains ?

I understand the "ICE" conditions however; I've never seen anyone here chain up for deep snow. Most of the experienced avid snow-crushers here will cut your chains off your rig if you dump in the middle of the road and you dig yourself in. This is typical here in northern California in the high Sierra. Airing down is the only way to travel and many who do not understand this aspect of four wheeling in challenging conditions learn quick as they will have no choice but to abide by the crowd who will insist as they cut your chains away. Chaining up in snow is considered silly here but, this is the area for Sierra cement and some of the deepest snow in the USA.



William

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Deep, deep, humiliation. Please don't cut my chains off, purty please!!



I must confess I put chains on last Sunday. My driveway has a parking spot with a slight slant on the east side of the garage. I park the company truck (98 dodge 2500 gasser) on this side so I have access to the garage where I keep my rig (when it comes THIS WEEK, cross fingers). As I was backing up into the parking spot I slid off into the sagebrush flats. The fellow who plows the roads complains every year about getting stuck in the same situation, so I don't feel too incompetent.



After several digs and progressing further down slope into the sagebrush I put chains on. I was too proud to ask for a tow. Anyway, I love my chains.



I went and got the plow truck (98 dodge 3500 gasser) and the tracked Bobcat and cleaned things up.

 

[Josparkz]

Originally posted by Hutchew

A few thoughts on my experiences:

1. Cheap chains break, resulting in body damage, broken brake lines, and getting stuck.

2. Dually chains are a PIA to put on, stick with singles for the rear if you have a dually. I usually run fronts first, then rears if needed, especially in ice and packed snow. Why? I like being able to steer.

3. It is advisable to put them on, if you know you are going to need them, BEFORE you need them. There is nothing funner than lying in 4" of mud topped with 12" of slushy snow or ice trying to get a set on. This is also done usually in the middle of the night, and/or in a blizzard. Carry a piece of carpet or vinyl mat with you. Lay out your chains on the mat, then drive up onto the chains. Or lay in the mud & snow, your choice.



What he said. But he forgot to mention the slid off the canyon road in the blizzard at night tied off to a tree so you don't lose the rig position.

Here is a trick I use when I have to chain up a mobile vehicle {won't work if you're stuck }

I carry a couple of pieces of 2X4 a little narrower than the chains, maybe 8".

I lay the chains out in front of the(front) tires, (or behind the rears)I put the 2X4 (or 2X6)in the middleof the chain, parallel to the links. I drive up on the block and park. I can then put the chains on with out the truck on them, much easier to adjust and tighten. Then drive them about a mile and tighten them up again.

Never leave home with out them

 

[Hutchew]

Originally posted by Josparkz

Here is a trick I use when I have to chain up a mobile vehicle {won't work if you're stuck }

I carry a couple of pieces of 2X4 a little narrower than the chains, maybe 8".

I lay the chains out in front of the(front) tires, (or behind the rears)I put the 2X4 (or 2X6)in the middleof the chain, parallel to the links. I drive up on the block and park. I can then put the chains on with out the truck on them, much easier to adjust and tighten. Then drive them about a mile and tighten them up again.

Never leave home with out them

That, my friend, is an excellent idea. I'm gonna give that a try. Would make getting them tight the first time a whole lot easier. Jeez, why didn't I think of that?